When Oidipous says that the shepherd pulled him away from murder (φόνου), this is only half of the truth, for by saving the infant from murder the shepherd preserved him to become Laios’ φονεύς (murderer), a word the Pythia reportedly used (l. 793). Whether acting from compassion or piety, the shepherd saved the infant from murder so that it could grow to commit a killing required by prophecy, therefore by the god, and therefore by necessity. And yet, because Oidipous committed this act against his will, rather than performing a required sacrifice he did commit murder. In both cases of attempted and completed murder the agents—Laios and Oidipous—acted in direct opposition to the god’s express will and necessity. Based on whether it is performed with or contrary to the god’s express wishes, one and the same action can be described and judged in very different terms. [Mj] [Aj] [Dnc] [Dnp]